50+ Cool Gift Ideas To Encourage Kids To Get Outdoors

When you’re looking for gifts for kids, it’s always a good idea to look for something that will encourage them to be outdoors more often.

Some kids naturally love to be outdoors and will be content to run around with sticks and make mud pies. But there are others who need a little motivation to put their tablets down and venture out into mother nature.

Here are some of the best outdoor gifts for kids that will encourage them to do exactly that.

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WATER TOYS

1. SWIMMING GOGGLES

Whether its for swimming lessons or a trip to the local pool fora day to relax, the kid in your life is guaranteed to have a need for a good pair of goggles at some point this summer.

2. LIFE JACKET

It’s safety first at the pool, especially for the littlest ones who may not yet be very strong swimmers. I never let my kids under 5 swim in a pool without one one these life jackets.

3. POOL TOYS

It’s hard to imagine kids getting bored in the pool, but a few pool toys can definitely enhance the experience. Your kids will love chasing these pool toys around in the water!

4. BOOGIE BOARD

No trip to the beach is complete without some boogie boarding fun! This fun gift will keep older kids entertained for hours on end.

5. SAND TOYS

Sand castles are fun, but this fun twist of making ice cream out of sand is a unique idea that’s sure to make for a fun photo-op.

6. WATER BALLOONS

Whether they use them for a traditional water balloon fight or carry them around like babies for the afternoon, water balloons have so much potential for fun.

7. SLIP N SLIDE

If the kids in question have any type of slope in their back yard, a Slip’n’Slide is exactly what they need to stay entertained all summer long.

8. WATER TABLE

Pools are a bit stressful when you have little ones, so a good water table is the perfect alternative for water play without going for a swim.

9. INFLATABLE POOL

If you want a decent pool without the commitment of an in-ground, or even a full-size above ground pool, this inflatable version is a great choice.

10. WATER GUN

If you have kids full of pent up energy, a friendly water gun battle might be just the thing to get them up and running around.

11. SPRINKLER

For more water fun that doesn’t involve risk, a sprinkler is tons of fun and keeps kids of all ages entertained for a good long while.

OUTDOOR GEAR AND CLOTHING

12. UMBRELLA

Having their own umbrella is not only practical for rainy days, but it will make them feel so grown up.

12. RAINBOOTS

A pair of rainboots is an absolute must for splashing in glorious puddles.

13. JACKET OR COAT

Not the most glamorous gift, but if they need a new jacket or coat, there’s no reason not to give it to them as a gift.

14. GLOVES

It’s miserable to be outside on a cold day without proper gloves. Kids who spend a lot of time outside in the winter will definitely appreciate this gift!

15. WATER SHOES

Water shoes are perfect for kids in the summer. They can go straight from running around on the playground to wading in the creek without missing a beat.

16. BINOCULARS

Being able to check out things far away with a pair of binoculars is the perfect gift for kids who love to explore.

17. HEADLAMP

Extremely necessary for those middle of the night bathroom trips while camping.

18. MULTITOOL

If you have a kid who loves to help fix things or tinker with stuff outside, having their own multitool will make them feel so important.

19. WALKIE TALKIE

Whether you keep one end so they can communicate with you while they’re off on their adventures, or let the kids play with both halves while they go on a “mission” together, this walkie talkie set will be super useful.

20. WATER BOTTLE

Staying hydrated is of utmost importance for kids who play outside all day, so give them a fun, sturdy water bottle that will motivate them to keep drinking.

21. CAMPING CHAIRS

If your family loves to go camping or even just have campfires in the backyard, it’s super fun for them to have a chair that’s just their size!

NATURE INSPIRED GIFTS FOR OUTDOOR KIDS

22. HIKING JOURNAL

Kids will love recording their memories of all the hikes they go on in this cool hiking journal. And it’ll be such a fun keepsake to look back on years down the road!

23. SEEDS

There’s nothing quite like the wonder of planting a seed and then watching it grow to into something that can bear fruit.

24. GARDENING SET

Inspire and motivate kids to grow a whole garden on their own with their very own set of gardening tools.

25. BUG CATCHER

Are they really outdoor kids if they don’t love to run around the yard catching bugs? Give them a place to keep their bugs for observation – but make sure you encourage them to let the critters go when it’s time to go inside!

26. BUTTERFLY GROWING KIT

If you haven’t done this with your kids, you absolutely must. Buy this growing kit, and then order the caterpillars to come in the mail! It takes a couple of weeks for them to turn into chrysallides and then finally butterflies, but it’s absolutely amazing to watch the process.

27. FIND AND SEEK SCAVENGER HUNT

Have kids that need to be entertained outside? This Find and Seek Scavenger Hunt game is fun for everyone! Each card is a prompt to go find something sparkly, fuzzy, round, etc.

THINGS THAT GO

28. SKI SCOOTER

For wintertime fun, kick the sledding up a notch with this ski scooter. Perfect for kids who are slightly older!

29. SLED

For the longest time, I kept forgetting to buy sleds for the kids until there was snow on the ground – and then the stores would be sold out! This year I finally remembered to buy them in October so now we’re set for when the snow arrives.

30. BIKE

If your kid is ready for the next size up, a bike makes the perfect gift for birthday or Christmas. If your kid doesn’t know how to ride a bike yet, skip the training wheels and check out balance bikes.

31. SCOOTER

A scooter is a fun change of pace from a bike, and a great choice if you have kids that are still learning to balance on a bike. I love these 3-wheeled versions that reduce wipe-outs!

32. TOY CAR

I never had toy ride-on car growing up, but I was always so envious of kids who had them! My parents keep one at their house for the kids, and it’s always the highlight of the trip for them when they get to drive it around the yard!

SPORTS & GAMES

33. BASKETBALL HOOP

A nice basketball hoop is a solid investment in fun outdoor family time.

34. SOCCER GOAL

If you have soccer lovers in the family and the space, a soccer goal is a great idea to encourage kids to get outside and play.

35. VOLLEYBALL NET

A rousing game of volleyball might be just the thing your family Thanksgiving gathering needs!

36. BADMINTON SET

A classic outdoor game that’s tons of fun for kids and adults alike!

BACKYARD ACTIVITY GIFTS FOR OUTDOOR KIDS

37. TRAMPOLINE

Trampolines have gotten a bad rap as being dangerous, but we recently invested in a safer, spring-free version, and it’s been the best thing ever for getting our kids outside to play more often!

38. JUNGLE DOME

A jungle dome like this one is the perfect gift for the little climbers in your life.

39. SANDBOX

As much as I don’t love the mess a sandbox makes, the hours that it’s kept my kids entertained make it worth the clean up afterwards. Make sure they understand that sand stays in the sandbox, and have them run a couple of laps around the yard before you let them back inside to keep gritty floors to a minimum.

40. TENT

Our kids love to hideaway in the backyard in this pop up tent. It’s also perfect for the beach!

41. PICNIC TABLE

It’s awfully nice when kids have their own space to sit to do activities outside or when you decide to eat dinner on the porch in the summer time!

42. LOUNGE CHAIRS

It’ll be hard for them not to spend time outside when they have lounge chairs as comfy as these to relax in.

43. DIGGER

This excavator toy is always a favorite, especially for the little ones.

TOYS

44. TREE SWING

If you have a lovely oak in your yard, it’s basically a law that you have to put a tree swing in it.

45. Balls

Basketballs, soccer balls, dodge balls, knobby balls…the possibilities are endless, and you really can’t go wrong.

46. HULA HOOPS

Hula hoops have so much potential for outdoor play besides the standard “make it swing around your hips” game.

47. JUMP ROPE

No childhood is complete without owning a good jump rope and learning how to hop in time with Miss Mary Mack.

48. RAKE AND SNOWSHOVEL

They’ll have tons of fun “helping” mom and dad rake leaves and shovel snow in the cooler months.

49. OUTDOOR EXPLORATION SET

This set has everything they’ll need to cultivate a healthy appreciate for all things nature and outdoors.

50. SIDEWALK CHALK

There’s no end to the activities you can do with sidewalk chalk. Draw a game of hopscotch, make “stained glass” art, or trace each other’s shadows.

51. BUBBLE MACHINE

Bubbles are fun, but getting light-headed from blowing bubbles for your kids all afternoon isn’t. A good bubble machine will solve all your problems.

52. HAMMOCK

Even kids can appreciate how glorious it is to relax on a hammock in the shade on a warm Sunday afternoon.

THE BEST GIFTS FOR OUTDOOR KIDS

I hope you found his list helpful! What outdoor gifts have you gotten for your kids that they absolutely loved?

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